AP AfghanistanUSA Today – by Jim Michaels and Tom Vanden Brook

WASHINGTON – A U.S. Army major general was killed in an attack at an Afghan military base in Kabul on Tuesday, according to a defense official who asked not to be named.

If confirmed would be the highest ranking American officer to be killed in the war in Afghanistan.

A defense official confirmed the information on the condition he not be named since the family had not been fully notified yet.   Continue reading “Man in Afghan uniform kills U.S. general”

A plane landing at Manchester airport was escorted by an RAF Typhoon fighter jet this afternoon after the captain became concernedDaily Mail – by Richard Spillett

An incoming plane has been escorted into Manchester Airport by the RAF ‘as a result of information received by the pilot about a possible device on board’, Greater Manchester Police said.

It is thought that the plane involved was a Qatar Airways Airbus A330, which had reportedly come from Doha, and that the RAF plane was a Typhoon from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire.   Continue reading “RAF fighter jet escorts passenger plane into Manchester airport amid captain’s fears of device on board”

Reuters

Three interim shelters that have housed thousands of children who have come unaccompanied to the United States from Central America will close within weeks, leading U.S. newspapers reported on Monday.

More than 7,700 children have been sheltered in facilities on military bases in California, Texas, and Oklahoma since they were opened in May and June, the Department of Health and Human Services said, according to media reports.   Continue reading “U.S. to close three interim shelters housing migrant children”

Reuters

President Barack Obama will announce on Tuesday that U.S. businesses have committed to investing $14 billion in construction, clean energy, banking, and information technology projects across Africa, a White House official said.

The announcement will occur at the U.S.-Africa Business Forum, part of a three-day Africa summit in Washington meant to showcase U.S. interest in improving trade and investment in the region.   Continue reading “Obama to announce $14 billion in U.S. corporate investments in Africa”

The White House

Our nation has suffered too much at the hands of dangerous people who use guns to commit horrific acts of violence. As President Obama said following the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy, “We won’t be able to stop every violent act, but if there is even one thing that we can do to prevent any of these events, we have a deep obligation, all of us, to try.”

Most gun owners are responsible and law-abiding, and they use their guns safely. The President strongly believes that the Second Amendment guarantees an individual right to bear arms. But to better protect our children and our communities from tragic mass shootings like those in Newtown, Aurora, Oak Creek, and Tucson, there are common-sense steps we can take right now.

Continue reading “The White House: Now is the Time to do Something about Gun Violence”

Market Watch – by Joseph Adinolfi

Two U.S. citizens who contracted the ebola virus in Liberia have showed signs of recovery after receiving an experimental treatment called ZMapp, which was developed by Mapp Biopharmaceutical Inc., according to CNN.

The medicine is a “three-mouse monoclonal antibody,” which means that antibodies were harvested from mice exposed to the virus, CNN reported. These antibodies in turn can boost the human immune system’s ability to fight off the virus.   Continue reading “Experimental drug improves ebola patients’ condition”

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CNN – by Phil Gast, Mariano Castillo and Greg Botelho

The college student accused of hijacking the webcam of Miss Teen USA Cassidy Wolf and other young women is a former high school classmate of the pageant winner.

Jared James Abrahams, 19, was arrested Thursday for allegedly taking nude images of the women using their own webcams, and then blackmailing them to send more explicit material.   Continue reading “Miss Teen USA: Screamed upon learning she was ‘sextortion’ victim”

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Tech Dirt – by Mike Masnick

We already covered how the CIA has admitted to and apologized for its spying on the Senate, but the CIA’s official “unclassified” statement on the matter shows that what the CIA did was even worse than the initial allegations. Here’s the basic summary, according to the CIA’s Inspector General:   Continue reading “CIA Spying On The Senate Went Much Further Than Originally Reported”

Stuff – Reuters

A Gaza ceasefire crumbled only hours after it began on Friday, with at least 40 Palestinians killed by Israeli shelling and Israel accusing militants of violating the US- and UN-brokered truce by firing rockets and mortars.

The 72-hour break announced by US Secretary of State John Kerry and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was the most ambitious attempt so far to end more than three weeks of fighting, and followed mounting international alarm over a rising Palestinian civilian death toll.   Continue reading “Gaza ceasefire over within hours”

Palestinians gather near the minaret of a mosque that police said was destroyed by an Israeli Air strike in Gaza City July 30, 2014. (Reuters / Finbarr O'Reilly)RT

Israel and Hamas have agreed to unconditionally begin a 72-hour ceasefire in the embattled Gaza Strip on Friday, the United States and United Nations said Thursday.

The ceasefire will begin at 8 a.m. local time (0500 GMT) on Friday, Aug. 1, US Secretary of State John Kerry and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon said in a joint statement. During the three-day cessation, forces on the ground will remain in place.   Continue reading “Israel, Hamas agree to unconditional 72-hour ceasefire”

Reuters

An oil tanker has started loading a cargo of condensate, or ultra-light oil, the first such export from the United States since the easing of a 40-year-old ban on U.S. crudeexports, two sources familiar with the matter said on Wednesday.

Westport Petroleum Inc, the Franklin, Tennessee-based shipping arm of Japanese trader Mitsui & Co, chartered the BW Zambesi, an LR1 tanker, also known as a Panamax class vessel, in mid-July for the voyage.   Continue reading “Ship loads first U.S. oil condensate export cargo in 40 years – sources”

The Hill – by Christina Marcos

The House voted Wednesday to rebuke President Obama by passing a resolution authorizing a GOP lawsuit against his use of executive power.

The 225-201 vote fell along party lines, with five Republicans voting against the measure. No Democrats supported it.

The lawsuit is a direct response to GOP frustration with Obama’s wide-ranging use of executive power.   Continue reading “House votes to sue Obama”

NBC Philadelphia – by Vince Lattanzio and Dan Stamm

Federal agents arrested six Philadelphia Police narcotics officers as part of an ongoing corruption probe and accused the group of swiping more than half a million dollars’ worth of money, drugs and other items over a period of years.

“Unfortunately a very small percentage minority of police officers continue to toss their oath aside and act like the very criminals they sworn to bring to justice,” said U.S Attorney Zane David Memeger.   Continue reading “6 Philadelphia Narcotics Officers Stole Half a Million Dollars From Suspects: Feds”

Vos iz Neias

Washington – The United States has agreed to re-supply Israel with ammunition, after Israeli military officials made its request today to the U.S. Defense Dept.

The U.S. will give access to the Billion Dollar stockpile of American weapons stored in Israel, CNN reported.   Continue reading “Washington – Defense Officials Say U.S. Re-Supplying Israel With Ammunition”

Senate Border Bill Moves ForwardInfowars

A measure in the Senate purportedly designed to deal with an influx of around 120,000 illegal immigrants has cleared a key procedural hurdle.

Formal debate on the legislation will begin following a 63 to 33 vote. The bill will provide $2.7 billion in emergency funding for the federal government to deal with the influx of illegal immigrants.   Continue reading “Senate Border Bill Moves Forward”

Fox News

An Ohio sheriff on Tuesday sent an ‘Open Letter’ to Mexico’s president requesting $900,000 for “dealing with your criminals.”

The Cincinnati Enquirer reported that Butler County Sheriff Richard K. Jones sent the letter to Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto requesting repayment for the 3,000 Mexican nationals arrested in his county over the past ten years. It was rough math, but he wants to charge Mexico for their jail time, which he figured was about five days, on average.   Continue reading “Ohio sheriff sends Mexico $900,000 bill for jailing illegals”